Chapter 316
Chapter 316
"More than that." Gary glanced at her, his gaze deep and direct. "I want to support you, and people like you who are working to make this world better. Money sitting in a bank is just numbers. But invested in people like you, it might become life-saving medicine. New hope."
Gary was still that decisive businessman. Only now, what he considered wasn't just profit.
Calista's heart felt like something had gently bumped against it.
Gary never said 'I love you,' but everything he did paved the way for her, shouldered the sky above her.
...
One month later.
Zephyria.
Inside the magnificent concert hall, the world's top scientists, scholars, and dignitaries from various nations gathered together.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine award ceremony was underway.
When the committee chairman solemnly announced the name "Calista," thunderous applause filled the hall.
Under the spotlight, Calista wore a simple white gown and walked slowly onto the stage.
She wasn't as emotional as other laureates. Her face even held that familiar cool composure.
She accepted the heavy gold medal from the King of Zephyria and walked to the podium.
In the audience, front row center, Gary wore an impeccably tailored black tuxedo, watching her intently.
His gaze traveled through the crowd, through the lights.
"Ten years ago, I nearly left the laboratory I loved forever because of a frame-up."
Calista began. "Back then, I thought a scientist's value lay in a perfect resume, in honors received. I feared stains on my record. Feared failure."
"But today, standing here, I want to say—I was wrong."
"A scientist's value isn't whether she's perfect, but whether her research can bring real change to this world. Whether, when facing darkness and threats, she can still hold onto her original purpose."
Her gaze fell on Gary.
" 'Next Generation Life Sciences Initiative' couldn't have been born without my team, without those who unconditionally trusted and supported me. This honor belongs to them, to every patient waiting in despair for hope, to science itself."
"That concludes my speech. Thank you."
No lengthy discourse. No stirring declarations.
Calista simply stated her beliefs calmly.
When she finished, applause erupted.
People admired not just her talent, but the pure integrity she maintained after weathering so many storms.
At the banquet after the ceremony, Calista became the center of attention.
After handling wave after wave of well-wishers, she took a glass of champagne and stepped onto the terrace for air.
The evening breeze was cool, dispersing some of the alcohol's effects.
A jacket carrying familiar warmth gently draped over her shoulders.
"Cold?" Gary's voice came from behind.
"I'm fine." Calista turned to look at him.
"You were beautiful up there." Gary said.
"Just a bit nervous."
"Couldn't tell." Gary smiled. From his pocket he pulled a small velvet box. Opening it revealed a simply designed platinum necklace with a small ginkgo leaf pendant, veins carved with lifelike detail.
"What's this?"
"Congratulations, Dr. Softhart." Gary personally fastened the necklace around her neck, cool metal meeting warm skin. "And congratulations, Mrs. Frost."
So he'd remembered it all.
...
Morning. The daylight was exceptionally clear.
When Calista woke, Gary was already out of bed.
She threw on a robe and walked to the living room, seeing him standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows on the phone.
"Mm, understood."
"Have him learn from Mike first. Those overseas projects—let him get hands-on experience."
"My end? No rush."
A few terse sentences, then he hung up.
Calista walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, cheek pressed against his broad, warm back.
"Grandfather's call?"
"Mm." Gary turned around, naturally pulling her into his embrace, chin rubbing against the top of her head. "Did I wake you?"
"No." Calista shook her head, looking up at him. "Trouble at home?"
"Good news." The corner of Gary's lips held the faintest smile. "My cousin can finally handle things. Edward says I don't need to micromanage everything at the Group anymore."
This meant the invisible shackles binding him to the Frost Group CEO position had loosened.
He was free.
Calista was genuinely happy for him.
She stood on tiptoe and kissed his chin.
"Congratulations, Mr. Frost. When are you planning to retire?"
Gary was amused by her teasing tone. He pinched her cheek, hand sliding down her waist with a hint of danger.
"Retirement's still far off. But I could change my office location."
His gaze settled on her face, meaningful.
Calista's heartbeat skipped.
She understood what he meant.
After last night's ceremony, Zephyria's Royal Academy of Sciences had formally invited her to stay at Karolinska Institute, heading a new, larger-scale biomedical research center. Three-year term.
This was an opportunity every top scientist in the world dreamed of.
She had almost no reason to refuse.
But Seaside City was their home.
"The term here..." Calista began hesitantly.
"Three years?" Gary finished for her.
Calista nodded.
She thought he'd make her choose, or at least show some reluctance.
But Gary just looked at her calmly, then said, "Sounds good. Stockholm's autumn is beautiful. Ethan should enjoy the forest parks here."
Calista froze.
He meant... he was coming?
Staying here three years for her?
"The Frost Group..."
"I just said someone can take over."
Gary interrupted, tone matter-of-fact. "Besides, there's the internet now. I can work from anywhere. The Frost Group has plenty of business in Stockholm. Perfect opportunity for on-site inspection."
He'd thought through every problem, cleared away every obstacle that might become her concern.
Calista said nothing more. Just buried her head in his chest and hugged him tightly.
A thousand words couldn't match this one embrace.
...
On the flight back to Seaside City, Calista fell asleep leaning on Gary's shoulder.
She'd been so exhausted lately, nerves constantly on edge. Now completely relaxed, she slept deeply.
Gary dimmed the window shade and had the flight attendant bring a thin blanket, carefully covering her.
After finishing, he pulled from his briefcase a small safe requiring both fingerprint and password verification.
The box was small—palm-sized—entirely black with substantial weight.
He entered the password, pressed his fingerprint.
A soft click. The lid popped open.
Inside were no documents, no chips. Just black velvet lining.
In the center groove lay a ring.
Not the kind with huge, flashy diamonds.
A platinum band. Tiny diamonds formed winding ginkgo leaf veins around the circle—craftsmanship refined to perfection.
The ring's center held no main stone, but cradled a small ginkgo leaf meticulously carved from white jade.
The jade was warm and lustrous, carving so delicate you could see the leaf's natural texture.
He'd commissioned Italy's top jewelry designer, gone through dozens of drafts before finalizing this design.
He'd carried it with him from Seaside City to Stockholm.
He'd imagined many ways to give it to her.
Perhaps at the Nobel banquet, proposing before the entire world.
Or in front of Stockholm's palace, in the square covered with golden fallen leaves.
But ultimately, he'd abandoned all those scenarios.
Too grand. Too noisy. Too performative.
What Gary wanted wasn't a spectacle for others.
He wanted a moment belonging only to them—quiet, natural, inevitable.
He wanted to wait until they'd resolved all pending issues, on a sunny afternoon in their own home, to place it on her finger himself.
Then tell her: Gary wanted to spend the rest of his life as Calista's husband.
Not because of a contract. Not because of duty.
Simply because he loved her.
Gary's fingertip gently traced the warm white jade.
No rush.
He could wait.
He closed the box and returned it to his bag.
...
Back in Seaside City, the moment the plane landed, reality hit Calista.
Stockholm's glory and clamor felt like a dream through thin mist, left far behind at ten thousand meters.
The Frost family estate.
Gary's cousin Simon Frost was also there—the young man mentioned on the phone who "could finally handle things."
He stood beside Gary, attitude respectful, eyes betraying eager anticipation.
Clearly, Gary's delegation of authority excited him.
A harmonious scene.
Calista spent a day at the Frost Estate with Edward, then returned to her institute the next day.
Colleagues threw her a small celebration. No outsiders—just old comrades who'd fought alongside her.
Everyone insisted she treat them. Calista laughingly agreed, choosing a private restaurant near the institute.
Life seemed to be returning to normal in a steady, beautiful way.
Until a week later, an unexpected letter was delivered to Calista's office.
The messenger was a law firm intern—a newly graduated young woman looking tense and nervous.
"Dr. Softhart, this is... from a Ms. Lake. She asked our firm to deliver it to you."
Surname Lake.
Calista already knew.
She accepted the manila envelope. It was thin. No return address, just "For Calista's Eyes Only" written in deliberately distorted handwriting.